Kansas City relocates tenants of troubled housing complex
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Why were tenants of North Lawn Apartments forced to relocate by the city?
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This is Kansas City Today. I'm Nomi Niuji-Yedin. Today is Wednesday, September 2nd. Coming up, for years, residents of one Kansas City apartment complex have complained of unsafe living conditions, and the city has intervened. We'll hear why tenants of the Northlawn Apartments are calling the latest development a victory, and what that could mean for Kansas City housing policy. But first, some headlines. The U.S. Department of Justice is suing Kansas City, Kansas public schools for allegedly allowing students to transition genders without their parents knowing. Grace Hills has more for the Kansas News Service.
The lawsuit alleges that the school district allows students to exclude parents from gender plan meetings when students work with staff to develop a plan around their transition. The DOJ says withholding this information is a violation of federal laws. The district's federal funding, which was more than 16 percent of its budget last year, is conditional on adhering to those laws. In a short statement, the district said it is in full compliance and is disappointed the DOJ decided to file a lawsuit.
How did the winter 2023 heat loss spark tenant organizing at North Lawn?
The district is one of four in Kansas targeted by the Trump administration for transgender student policies.
Kansas City's retiring police chief says the best choice to replace her at the department would be an internal candidate. Stacey Graves announced her retirement earlier this summer after four years in the top position. She's the first woman to lead the department. On KCUR's Up to Date, Graves suggested a candidate from within KCPD would be best equipped and most familiar with the city.
They already have those community contacts. And they also know the people of this department. They know the people that are in there, that are working, that are tried and true, trustworthy leaders.
The Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners will vote on who becomes the new police chief. Graves says she'll stay on until a successor is chosen. COVID-19 activity is going up across the country, but so far, local case numbers have stayed low. KCUR's Noah Taborda reports.
Community transmission is low across the Kansas City metro, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Still, University of Kansas Health System infectious disease expert Dr. Dana Hawkinson says we're not immune to national trends. Kids are going back to school.
What is a tenant union and how did it help North Lawn residents?
In those classrooms and in those enclosed spaces, it's an easy place to transfer viruses from one person to another. The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment has noted some small red flags, an uptick in the virus in wastewater tests and more hospitalizations.
We'll be back after this.
KCUR and Interurban Art House are celebrating the Kansas farm girl who went on to become America's first female commercial tattoo artist. And the local tattoo scene today. Join us for People's History of Kansas City live Thursday, September 24th in Overland Park. More info and tickets are at kcur.org slash tattoos.
75 years ago, what's known as the Black Friday flood wreaked havoc on Kansas City.
It was a hellish landscape.
Just grab whatever you can because the water's coming. Reflections in the aftermath of the destructive flood of 1951 on A People's History of Kansas City.
For years, KCUR has followed the story of a dilapidated apartment complex in Kansas City's historic Northeast neighborhood. Many of the residents are immigrants or refugees, and they complained for years of a lack of heat, mold infestations, and other unsafe conditions, with little attention from their landlord. Advocacy group KC Tenants organized the building's residents and got the attention of city government. And now, tenants say they've won the long battle by securing guarantees for repairs and lower rent.
How did the city’s $500,000 ordinance and later backtrack affect repair plans?
KCWare's Salisa Kolakal has been covering the story, and she brought me up to speed.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
Why were tenants of North Lawn Apartments forced to relocate by the city?
0:00–1:21
2
How did the winter 2023 heat loss spark tenant organizing at North Lawn?
1:21–2:34
3
What is a tenant union and how did it help North Lawn residents?
2:34–4:24
4
How did the city’s $500,000 ordinance and later backtrack affect repair plans?
4:24–5:36
5
What new agreements did the Tenant Union secure with the mayor and the new landlord?
5:36–6:52
6
How will the reduced rent rates and repair schedule impact current tenants?
6:52–8:16
7
Why is North Lawn’s story seen as a precedent for Kansas City housing policy?
8:16–9:52
8
What broader lessons does the North Lawn case offer about city responsibility and tenant rights?
9:52–11:28
Speakers
1 identifiedMore from Kansas City Today
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